Each BookPALS school provides an onsite liaison who will greet the reader, pair her/him up with teachers, and be available as a contact for the reader and the organization. The school liaison could be a teacher, principal, librarian or community volunteer.

The choice of the reading material is left to the reader and the teacher to decide. Bibliographies for grades pre-K through 6 are given to each reader. However, the school is responsible for providing the reader with access to school library books. BookPALS are also encouraged to check books out of their local public library.

How can I best utilize my volunteer BookPAL?

First, agree upon a time and day that is mutually convenient for both you and your BookPAL to visit. Your BookPAL will come to your class once a week for thirty minutes. Talk to your BookPAL about what your class is doing. Most actors are happy to make their visits relevant to your curriculum. Feel free to make book recommendation and suggestions. For example, during your study of the continents, you might like your BookPAL to read "Tales of Children from Other Lands." Before a class camping trip, your actor could bring in campfire stories, songs or games. Or, when studying the rain forest, you might like "Rain Forest Folk Tales," songs or customs.

If you have books in the classroom or school library that you'd like presented, offer them to your BookPAL to peruse the week before so he/she can be prepared. Also, let them know of other sources for children's books.

Please always remain in the classroom with your BookPAL and students. Besides being able to assist your BookPAL with any students that may have special needs, it will also help with the evaluation we ask you to complete at the end of the year.

After the program is established, there may be times when your BookPAL must reschedule because of work (TV, film, training videos, etc.) or when you must reschedule because of other school conflicts (field trips, testing, assemblies, etc.). Please exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses so if you have to cancel it can be done as expediently as possible. (Acting work often comes with very little notice—especially for voice over talent that may get paged at 10:00 for an 11:00 job, so please be patient if this happens). Please also provide your BookPAL with a school calendar, which lists school holidays and other days school is closed.

Keep talking to your BookPAL as the weeks unfold. Share ideas about what seems to be working and how the program can be shaped for your classroom. If you have a problem or question during the course of the program, please contact your on-site BookPALS School Liaison, or call your BookPALS Coordinator

We thank you for inviting BookPALS into your classroom and for making them an integral part of your school week!

For more information, or to request a BookPAL for your classroom, please call or e-mail Robin Roy at (323) 549-6709 or click here for an application.

Last Updated Tuesday, January 31 2012 @ 03:30 PM EST; 27,581 Hits